WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 11:40 — 12.1MB)
It’s a felony to have a syringe in Indiana. Prosecuting attorneys can level a felony charge against a defendant, if they’re arrested in possession of a needle.
In Monroe County, the number of arrests for needle possession doubled over the last year, despite the Monroe County Prosecutor’s office agreeing to throw out many syringe charges.
Needle exchanges were allowed to operate in Indiana in 2016. Then-Governor Mike Pence allowed Needle exchanges to operate across the state, only after public health experts and epidemiologists advocated for needle exchanges as the most effective approach to combat the worst HIV and Hepatitis epidemic in state history.
But even while needle exchanges are allowed to change out dirty and infected syringes for clean ones, it’s still illegal to carry one. Indiana Recovery Alliance Director and Founder Chris Abert said while the Monroe County prosecutor’s office has done a great job of throwing out felony needle possession charges, he’ll push for the legislature to revisit the law, in January.
